Store-service apparatus.



No. 809,714. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. C. J. MILLER.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT, 7, 1904.

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No. 809,714. PTENTBD JAN. 9, 1906. C. J. MILLER.

STORESBRVICE APPARATUS.

APPLwATxoN FILED 00127. 1904.

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CHARLES J. MILLER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application led October '7, 1904. Serial No. 227,529.

To all 107110711/ it 1ra/ty concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLEs J. MILLER, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the `following is a specification.

My invention relates to store-service apparatus, and particularly to the line stations therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means in connection with the station friction-arms to enable the operator to conveniently apply sul'licient propelling force to drive the carrier from o`ne station to another, either on a long level line or a steep grade.

The invention consists generally in providing means arranged to otter ayielding resistance to the propelling i'oroe that drives the carrier from one station to another.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a station and friction-arms with the carrier in position to be propelled therefrom. Fig. 2 is a detail showing resisting devices in connection with one oi the frictionarms. Eig. 3 is a similar view showing the resisting device in its depressed position. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the position of the spring. Fig. 5 is a plan view looking down on one of the friction-arms. Fig; 6 is a plan view showing both of the arms and the position of the resisting devices thereon, and E ig. 7 is a transverse section through the friction-arm and the yielding device mounted thereon.

In the drawings, 2 represents the hanger, 3 the line-wire, and 4 a horizontal arm supporting the propelling-cord 5.

6 represents the friction-arms, supported by the hangers 2 beneath the line-wire, and 7 is the carrier, having wheels 8, adapted to travel on the line-Wire, and laterally-extending studs 9, having sleeves 10, that engage the friction-arms when the carrier enters the station.

I have found it desirable in the use of an apparatus of this kind to provide some means for offering a yielding resistance to the passage of the carrier when it enters the station, and particularly when it is being propelled therefrom. Vith this end in view I provide plates 11, pivoted on each friction-arm and having flanged edges 12, adaptedy to extend down over the sides o'l" said arms, and a beveled free end 13, that is normally held in its raised position above the surface ol the arms by a flat spring 1-1. When the carrier enters a station, the sleeves 10 will roll up over the plates 11, depressing them and putting their springs under compression, and the resistance oil'ered by the plates to the passage of the carrier will to a considerable extent check its momentum. When the carrier is propelled from the station, the sleeves 10 will engage the inclined ends 13, and su'llcient resistance will be oilered to enable-the operator to apply the necessary force required to drive the carrier to. the next station. This resistance can be regulated by means of the little dogs 14, pivoted on the friction-arms within slots 15in the flanges 12 and adapted to engage the bottoms of said slots and lock the plates in their depressed position. These dogs are capable of adjustment alonv' the bottoms of the slots, so that the heigtlit of the free ends of the plates above the arms can be regulated according to the resistance desired.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the yielding plate is shown at its highest point above the friction-arm, the dog 14 being in a position substantially parallel with said arm. When it is desired to lower the yielding plate, its free end will be pressed down toward the arm and the dog 14 adjusted in the bottom of the slot 15 until the desired degree of adjustment is obtained. /Vhen the dog 14 is perpendicular, the plate will be at its lowest adjustment.

In the operation the carrier will enter a station and depress the plates and pass over them. When it is desired to propel the carrier from one station to another, the operator will grasp the propelling-cord 5 and give a pull thereon suiiicient to 'force down the yielding plates and drive the carrier over them. Whenever greater resistance is desired, the operator can adjust the pivoted dogs to set the plates at different elevations with respect to the friction-arms, and when desired the bevel or inclination of the free IOC ends 13 may be changed, as by filing, to vary their angle with respect to the surfaces of the arms. v

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a station and Way, of friction-arms beneath said way, a carrier, a propelling device therefor, and means provided in connection with said arms for offering ayielding resistance to the passage of said carrier.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with frictionarms, of plates pivoted thereon at one end, and having beveled opposite ends, and springs provided between the beveled ends of said plates and said arms.

3. In a de vice of the class described, the combination, with frictionarms, of means for offering a yielding resistance to the pas-Y sage of the carrier thereover, and means for adjusting said resisting means to vary the degree of resistance, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination, with frictionarms, of plates pivoted thereon at one end, and having beveled or inclined opposite ends, springs provided between said plates and arms, and pivoted dogs carried by said arms and arranged to engage said plates and lock them in different positions with 'respect to said arms, substantially as described.

5. The combination,- with a station and line-wire and a carrier-propelling device, of a carrier, and means for offering a yieldin resistance to the discharge of said carrier rom said station.

6. The combination, with a station and a line-wire, and a carrier-propelling device, of a carrier, and means for offering a yielding resistance to the entrance of said carrier into a station and its discharge therefrom.

7. The combination, with a station, a way and a carrier-propelling device, of a carrier, and yielding plates having beveled ends against which said carrier is normally in contact when at the station, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a station and a way, of a carrier, pivoted' plates beveled at one end in the path of said carrier, and springs provided in connection with said plates.

Q. The combination, with fri ction-arms, of plates pivoted thereon, springs provided between said plates and arms, andpivoted dogs arranged to engage said plates and lock them in. different positions with respect tosaid arms.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 29th day of September, 1904, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

CHARLES J. MILLER.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, C. MAGNAMARA. 

